Does home or work cause more stress?

The last few years have exposed many to the pains of job loss, financial uncertainty and an education in mortgage foreclosure. But during that same period, families have been turned upside down by divorce, wayward children and the unexpected passing of family members.

But which has the greatest impact on our psyche? Is there a difference between work-related stress and home (personal) stress? And how does each affect us?

This came to mind when I recently heard a radio program outlining a study where the differences in stress had been measured with feedback from questionnaires and surveys, soliciting both men and women. The researcher described the differences in stress from various stimuli, but most notably, work and home. They found the stress from work, however forceful, didn't meet the intensity of home-related, or what I'll call "homegrown," stress.

I can immediately identify, having experienced the chaos created when a home is dismantled. Never has a work situation, no matter how grim, caused that amount of sleeplessness or anxiety. Other life events, such as raising kids, are among those home-related issues that keep parents awake, tossing and turning over what to do.

There is obvious overlap when a work situation leads to a problem at home, but the daily tasks of managing our work fails in comparison. Handling a tough situation in the office doesn't rise to the level of making decisions which impact your offspring. Not to mention, just delivering and fetching children from their activities can be a full-time job, which challenges even the toughest parent.

Difficulty also comes from a youth culture, which demands to be entertained. The media's influence and handheld devices make it hard to spend a weekend relaxing with the family. A pool, backyard and some friends are no longer good enough; high speed data service is now required. It is troubling to see a group of teenagers engaged on their phones, with only intermittent acknowledgement of those in the room.

But back to this idea of stress. Could it be that returning to work on Monday morning is actually a welcome reprieve from the demands of our family? This is quickly becoming the new normal, with more people subscribing to this notion. Could it really be we are escaping to work in lieu of our responsibilities at home?

J. Townley is a Tuscaloosa, Ala., native living in Tallahassee. He is the father of three daughters and a son.